Kristen Johnston weakened by lupus

Friday

Dec 20, 2013 at 12:01 AMDec 20, 2013 at 10:40 AM

Kristen Johnston revealed via Facebook that she has lupus myelitis. Since early September, the actress has been "really, really sick" - suffering from muscular weakness over her entire body that makes even walking difficult.

Kristen Johnston revealed via Facebook that she has lupus myelitis. Since early September, the actress has been “really, really sick” — suffering from muscular weakness over her entire body that makes even walking difficult.

“Lying down, I’m fine — which is great for writing or killing time on social media,” she wrote. “ But it’s kind of disastrous when you’re in a sitcom that requires tons of physical comedy.”

The 46-year-old star of The Exes had to take a two-episode break from the TV Land series. Leah Remini was hired to cover for her; the first episode with Remini will be shown on Jan. 1.

Other eye-openers

• The car shop owned by actor Paul Walker and his business partner, Roger Rodas, is closing in the wake of their deaths last month in a car crash, TMZ.com said. The employees at Always Evolving in Valencia, Calif., are looking for new jobs, and the shop is being cleaned out.

• Demi Lovato won’t return as a judge for the fourth season of The X Factor.

“I started the show being a singer and a musician, and so I’m going to go back to that,” the pop star told Billboard. With a tour and new album ahead, Lovato will be too busy.

• Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts has reportedly signed a new long-term ABC contract worth up to $14 million a year, the New York Post said.

• Legal action is brewing, according to the publisher of the graphic novella Justin M. Damiano, against actor Shia LaBeouf, who acknowledged borrowing work without giving proper credit while writing the script for the short film HowardCantour.com.